1. Hands-off sports’ coaching: thoughts from the touchlines Heather Piper- MMU Dean Garratt - Chester Bill Taylor - MMU Including research supported by the Economic and Social Research Council, UK, RES-000-22-4156

2. ‘I've been on child protection courses where you're given a scenario and they ask you whether you think that's appropriate or not, I said ‘yeah that's appropriate’, and it's actually deemed … by the letter of the law, or the policy, or their agenda, that it's not appropriate! And I'm looking at it, going that's just ridiculous; that's just ridiculous that that's not appropriate.’ (Alun)

3. ‘... all these people, all these organisations have got their child protection and safeguarding policies, and it's amazing how … they don't actually tackle the nitty gritty at all. I mean that's the one thing that really frustrates me about it; it's like it's just this great big hypothetical non-realistic, bureaucratic exercise. It's like oh my God, you know, we've decided that these kids are at risk, therefore we need a policy; therefore we'll write this policy, now we've got a policy, we've ticked the box and it's all done and dusted. And I think, you know, across the board, there's far too much reliance on that sort of thing, rather than realising it's actually the day-to-day nitty gritty decisions you make on the shop floor.’ (Martin)

4. ‘a coach will not meet a swimmer on their own. They always have to have a third person present. So if there's an issue, it's always coach, swimmer and somebody else.’ (Paula Disability officer)

5. ‘But also, when it comes to doing things like giving someone a hug, an arm around the shoulder to try and cheer them up, especially girls ... I'm just aware of the possible implications … how it could be perceived. And I think I'm just more aware of what could happen, if someone perceives it in the wrong way.’ (Michael)

6. ‘Only once in the 11 years of being here has a CRB … come back which meant I wouldn't employ the person ... well let's scrap CRB, when at the end of the day, if you were to scrap it, what if then something did happen? you'd always then question, you know, what if? And it's the what ifs, isn't it? None of us like filling in paperwork, none of us ... but I do firmly believe the CRB is one means ... you know, and it only captures those people that have actually been caught but it's a box you can tick and we live in an age where you have to tick boxes.’ (Becky)

7. ‘I wouldn't say I'm happy with the way things are ... I just think it's a shame that things are the way they are. Yeah, it's disappointing, isn't it, that because of the behaviour of some, that everybody has to … it's really…it's hard to explain. But it's just a shame that the actions of some have led to what might actually slow the progress of some people down ... sometimes you just wanna get in there and get hands-on. I just think it's a real shame. And that's the barrier for me is, that we're hamstringing these kids because of the actions of a few.’ (Peter)